Sony XAV-AX100

I'm not sure what normal Bluetooth controls you have but the driving reason for me to get this Headunit was CarPlay. The volume knob doubles as a button to bring up Siri and access all of the functions she can provide. Definitely a lot more intuitive than fidgeting with your phone. Not to mention those features also help avoid distracted driving.

 

I can answer calls and such. Get navigation spoken thru the radio etc but no visual on the radio since it’s more of the basic display

 

Yeah, this would let you gain text to voice and vice versa through Siri as well as a visual of whatever program you’re running as long as it’s Carplay compatible.

 

I can get poor Siri operation currently now. But it’s thru my phone with hey Siri. But I would be 100% it if it had waze.
Also on the Sony xavax100 can you play movies while driving? Not for me but my wife while I drive

 

Got mine done today so far pretty happy. No steering controls. It fine i can reach its so close. I can’t get my album artwork to show while playing. And i also made a usb spot in the blank came out awesome

 

For CarPlay does it have to be plugged in via usb?

 

Yes for CarPlay it does it displays the apps on the screen ,music, maps, messages . But you can still stream to it through Bluetooth but the volume must be turned up alot

 

Yes.

You’re looking at $800 plus before you find a deck that can do it wireless and most of those decks are from Alpine with weird options often missing until you pay an enormous amount of money.

 

It’s been years since I’ve looked into head units. I’m tired of not having blue tooth and having to use my factory AUX cord. Sure everything works, but I’d like to plug it up via USB and display my apps and be able to have hands free while driving

I saw this thread and noticed the majority of screens now days lack CD players, not a big deal really, with Apple Music I’ll download whatever I want so that isn’t a big deal. This seems like a pretty good head unit to go with for me. I’ve found the a little cheaper on eBay, but I’m curious about the backup camera and steering wheel controls. Mainly my steering wheel controls, I like the volume buttons right there. Is there a PAC system or something that is basically plug and play to retain these? My 09 has a backup camera and it’d be pretty cool to have the camera show on the bigger screen besides just my rear view mirror

 

Yes, some of the steering wheel control units are plug and play. When you buy a headunit from Crutchfield, or at least add it to the cart, you can scroll through the different options to retain steering wheel controls. I know the Axxess module I used worked on automatic detection. Just check with the manufacturers page of every unit you’re interested and you can find out if that module can auto detect your truck and stereo.

You can also get almost this exact unit with a DVD/CD player. It’s the model up from it called the AXV AX200. It’s a bit more money though with a slightly smaller screen so most people don’t get it.

 

Does this unit also charge through the USB?

 

It charges my iPhone when I have it plugged in.

 

So it charges while using CarPlay as well? I think this is the unit I’m going to go with next week

 

It does charge while using CarPlay.

 

Yep, anything with carplay will charge while you use it. I've got a kenwood but same basic idea, using carplay while playing music and with the phone's gps on navigating somewhere I'm still charging faster than I'm using power.

I posted in another section about this but I'm currently in a rental with Entune. My 09 with Kenwood carplay is miles above and beyond the toyota entune system. I was on the fence about getting a carplay headunit but its great and much, much better than any standard auto interface.

Does your steering wheel not have the controls, or did you have the controls until you installed the sony? Any of the steering wheel interface units should work, I don't know about the sony specifically but I know with kenwoods and pioneers the Imaestro unit gives you some added functions on the stereo.

 

It should. I haven't gone on a long enough drive yet to notice how much it's actually charging. I know the manual said the maximum amps through the USB is 1.5 amps. Given the stock iPhone charger is 1 amp it should work fine.

 

Toyota has been extremely resistant towards enabling Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on their stock headunits. My 2013 headunit was functional but beyond that it sucked. This Sony unit is so much better.

I don't think the extra functions of the Imaestro are compatible with this stereo. Sony seems to keep with the KISS principle with their remote interface. My Axxess was extremely easy to setup, actually it was basically wire up and play. It detected everything automatically and it wasn't even $100.

 

The axxess is what I have as well, agreed it is very easy to setup and get working.

 

Care to share which Kenwoodnunit you have? I just can’t see myself paying $400 more for a CD/DVD drive when I don’t actually think I’ll use it enough to be worth it. With Apple Music I only ever listen through my auxiliary part as it is.
The only steering wheel controls I have are volume and track skip. I will want to retain the function of these buttons, I know that shouldn’t be an issue with the majority of units anyway